The summer of 2024 was a period of domestic and international turmoil for Northeast Asia, marked by tensions in the Taiwan Strait and controversies surrounding alleged election interference in South Korea.

Around that time, testimony has been secured indicating a large-scale, covert arrest operation targeting individuals suspected of being Chinese spies in South Korea.

With additional accounts from foreign intelligence sources, the reality of the incident is showing signs of escalating into a new security controversy.

According to a comprehensive report from <한미일보>, the operation was carried out by a military special forces unit, excluding the police.

“If this intelligence is accurate, it is assessed that China, as part of its ‘decoupling’ strategy from the US, which precedes Taiwan, infiltrated operatives and was subsequently discovered. Whether China was targeting specific areas or if operatives were dispersed nationwide conducting pro-China influence operations is a matter that needs to be clarified through investigation.” — Shin Won-young (alias), Security Expert (Ph.D. in Military Strategy) 

While it is known that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) typically participates in secret operations involving special forces, it has not been confirmed whether the NIS was involved in this particular operation.

Furthermore, no indictments or court records related to this incident have been found to date.

“There have been instances where Chinese nationals, under the guise of tourism, visited South Korea not for sightseeing but to photograph the NIS building, Air Force bases, or to use drones to capture images of US aircraft carriers arriving in Busan. However, internal, classified operations are not publicized, making it difficult to ascertain the details of their execution.” — Jeong In-sung (alias), Covert Operations Researcher (Ph.D.) 

However, a source from a US intelligence agency repeatedly confirmed to this outlet, “An operation took place between December 2023 and September 2024,” and stated, “I understand the arrested individuals were dispersed and held at US military bases.” This testimony, however, has not been independently verified.

According to a whistleblower, they stated, “The period I participated was around the summer of 2024.” The whistleblower's past service in a special forces unit at that time has been confirmed through our investigation.

In May 2024, the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted large-scale "Joint Sword-2024A" exercises encircling Taiwan, and in July, heightened tensions by having 66 military aircraft appear in airspace near Taiwan within a single day. Concurrently, allegations of hacking emerged regarding South Korea's election authorities, sparking controversy over election interference.

Summer Operation, the December 3 Election Commission Chinese Spy Arrest Operation, and Martial Law

The circumstances suggesting military involvement in the arrest of alleged spies have led to analyses that it could be connected to the declaration of martial law on December 3, just a few months later.

“If the summer operation led to the declaration of martial law, it could be a sequential scenario rather than an isolated incident, but it requires closer examination rather than hasty connections. If there were perceived invisible security threats, the NIS should have intervened. However, given that the nation's intelligence agency has been incapacitated for a long time, the urgent circumstances that led to the deployment of the military or military intelligence agencies must also be considered.” — Lee Myung-hoon (alias), Ph.D. in Military Studies 

“There are numerous cases where the military and intelligence agencies have cooperated when North Korea infiltrated South Korea for espionage. If the alleged arrest of Chinese spies is true, it is a groundbreaking event and a case of highly aggressive intelligence activity, akin to a military operation.” — Kim Ju-won (alias), Senior Official at a Domestic Intelligence Agency 

Furthermore, the operational structure, excluding police and involving military-US military cooperation, has been pointed out as similar to a martial law situation.

“From China's perspective, a backlash is inevitable. ROK-US cooperation could lead to a full-blown US-China conflict. The investigation results will reveal whether the operations in summer and winter are connected or independent.” — Jeong Woo-hyun (alias), Former Senior Official at a Domestic Intelligence Agency 

The testimony secured by this publication is merely the tip of the iceberg. What information was obtained during the summer operation and how it led to the winter martial law remains a mystery.

The identities of the arrested individuals, the scope of cooperation, and the communications exchanged through diplomatic channels have not yet been confirmed. What is clear is that the ‘prelude to war on security’ that weighed on South Korean society throughout 2024 was amplified through actual operations and decisions.

“China's legal, psychological, and public opinion warfare against South Korea has the nature of a ‘Super-Han-jeon’ (초한전) aimed at making South Korea pro-China. Having completely communized and subjugated Hong Kong, and with Taiwan, its next target, holding direct elections and taking measures to exclude Chinese influence, China has shifted its ‘Super-Han-jeon’ target to South Korea.” — Park Jun-min (alias), Ph.D. in Military Intelligence 

This publication has not yet obtained an official statement from the military authorities.

<한미일보> will continue its investigation to uncover the full extent of the incident.

By Heo Gyeom